December 13, 2025
Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr As we read of the prophet Elijah coming to bring an end to wrath and to restore the hearts of fathers toward their sons, can we imagine what our world would be like if there were an end to wrath? An end to anger, an end to hate, […]
December 12, 2025
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” – Revelation 12:1. Who is this woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, on her head a crown of twelve […]
December 11, 2025
“Whoever has ears ought to hear.” Two days ago, we entered The Book of Consolation from Isaiah, supported yesterday by the power of our Creator to save us. Today, Isaiah quotes God telling us, “It is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’” Today’s gospel ends with Jesus saying, “Whoever has […]
December 10, 2025
Hearing voices is not something to dismiss. Specialists can help. However, there are the voices of literary characters. There’s a familiar sound of Winnie-the-Pooh, Hercule Poirot, and any particular character voice in Charles Dickens’ novels, a master at creating character voices. And then there’s scripture. How we read scripture is improved when we hear the […]
December 9, 2025
Anniversary of the Canonization of Saint Peter Julian Eymard “He tends his flock like a shepherd; he gathers the lambs in his arms” (Isaiah 40:11). God’s care for us is personal, individual, and intentional. He gathers to himself those who are poor in spirit, isolated, lonely, or overlooked. We hear it in the Gospel: “What […]
December 8, 2025
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary In today’s gospel, Mary was visited by the Angel Gabriel, who told her that she would be the mother of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And as incredibly unbelievable as this story was, she said yes to our Lord when she said, “May it […]
December 7, 2025
2nd Sunday of Advent The Prophet Isaiah, in today’s reading, gives us a very vivid image of what the consequences of listening and acting on God’s invitation may look like in the natural order. I write these words shortly after celebrating the feast of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, patron of migrants and immigrants, and having […]
December 6, 2025
Optional Memorial of Saint Nicholas, Bishop His heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned (Matthew 9:35). This section in the Gospel is titled: “The Compassion of Jesus”. It is from this movement of His Sacred Heart that the Twelve are sent out on their mission: As you go, make […]
December 5, 2025
We are in the First Week of Advent in the Jubilee Year of Hope, and today’s readings point us forward toward the beauty and promise of the Incarnation. The Responsorial Psalm sets the tone, “The Lord is my light and salvation.” Isaiah offers us a panorama of hope, a time of Messianic peace and wholeness, […]
December 4, 2025
Our readings this week from the book of the prophet Isaiah provide a beautiful focus for our Advent journey—the firm foundation provided by our God. We respond in song, “A strong city have we…a nation of firm purpose you keep in peace.” Our Gospel reading also focuses on firm foundations. Jesus tells us, “Everyone who […]